Buddleja plant named ‘Tobudviole’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named ‘Tobudviole’ that is characterized by a compact habit, short internodes, conical flower spikes, small leaves and a long flowering season.

Botanical classification: Buddleja davidii.

Variety denomination: ‘Tobudviole’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddlejaplant botanically known as Buddleja davidii and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Tobudviole’.

‘Tobudviole’ originated from open pollination of the female or seedparent a proprietary Buddleja identified as BUO3049 (not patented) andan unknown male or pollen parent. The resulting seeds were subsequentlyplanted and grown. The cultivar ‘Tobudviole’ was selected by theinventor in the 2004 as a single plant in Harkstead, Ipswich, UnitedKingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Tobudviole’ first occurred byterminal cuttings in 2005 in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom. Sincethat time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of thenew cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newBuddleja cultivar ‘Tobudviole’. These traits in combination distinguish‘Tobudviole’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingknown varieties of Buddleja.

-   -   1. Buddleja ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits short internodes.    -   2. Buddleja ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits conical flower spikes.    -   3. Buddleja ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits a compact habit.    -   4. Buddleja ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits small leaves.    -   5. Buddleja ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits a long flowering season.

The closest comparison cultivar is Buddleja ‘Nanho Purple’ (notpatented).

‘Tobudviole’ is distinguishable from ‘Nanho Purple’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Tobudviole’ has lighter purple flowers than ‘Nanho Purple’.    -   2. ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits earlier flowering.    -   3. ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits a longer flowering season.    -   4. ‘Tobudviole’ has a more compact habit.    -   5. ‘Tobudviole’ has shorter internodes.

‘Tobudviole’ is distinguishable from the female parent BUO3049 by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Tobudviole’ has lighter purple flowers than BU03049.    -   2. ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits a more compact habit.    -   3. ‘Tobudviole’ exhibits a larger number of flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofBuddleja ‘Tobudviole’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall viewof a 4 month old plant. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Buddleja cultivarnamed ‘Tobudviole’. Data was collected in Mainz, Germany from 4 monthplants grown outdoors in 16 cm. diameter containers. The time of yearwas Summer and the temperature range was 20-35 degrees Centigrade duringthe day and 15-25 degrees Centigrade at night. The light level wasnatural light. No photoperiodic treatments or growth retards were used.Color determinations are in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart 2007 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements aresimilar to the species. ‘Tobudviole’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however,without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleja davidii ‘Tobudviole’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘Tobudviole’ is the product of the female or seed parent    identified as BU03049 and an unknown male or pollen parent.-   Plant type: Woody shrub.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Plant shape: Compact, bushy.-   Suitable container size: 14 cm. pots.-   Height: 20 to 30 cm. in height.-   Width: 30 to 40 cm. in width.-   Low temperature tolerance: −20° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 45° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Cuttings or tissue culture.-   Time to initiate roots in Summer: 14 days to initiate roots at 22°    Centigrade.-   Time to initiate roots in Winter: 20 days to initiate roots at 20°    Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in Summer: 21 days at 22°    Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in Winter: 28 days at 20°    Centigrade.-   Crop time: Approximately 3 months.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem:    -   -   Basal branching.—Yes.        -   Average number of lateral branches.—10.        -   Pinching.—Yes.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—2 mm. in diameter.        -   Lateral branch length.—15 cm. in length.        -   Internode length.—3 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem strength.—Moderate.        -   Stem color.—195C.        -   Pubescence.—Present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—6 to 8.        -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf base.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf length.—6 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—1 cm. in width.        -   Texture.—Glabrous both surfaces.        -   Pubescence.—Both sides covered with short hairs.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—137B.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—138D.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—N137A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—138C.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—138C.        -   Vein color (under surface).—138C.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—2 mm. in length, and 1 mm. in diameter.        -   Petiole color.—138C.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—Strong.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Terminal and lateral            verticillasters.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—8 to 12 cm. in length and 3 cm. in            width.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Over 100.        -   Flower type.—Salverform.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—8 to 10.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—2 to 3.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—5,000 to 10,000.        -   Natural flowering season.—June to November.        -   Time to flower.—8 weeks.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Daily.        -   Fragrance.—Strong.        -   Flower bud length.—10 mm.        -   Flower bud diameter.—2 mm.        -   Flower bud shape.—Tubular.        -   Bud color.—N82A.        -   Rate of bud opening.—2 to 3 days.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Flower shape.—Tubular with flaring corolla.        -   Flower dimensions.—8 mm. in diameter and 15 mm. in height.        -   Flower longevity.—7 days.        -   Number of petals.—4.        -   Fused or unfused.—Fused.        -   Petal arrangement.—Cruciform.        -   Petal Texture.—Smooth both sides.        -   Petal shape.—Round.        -   Petal margin.—Undulate.        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.        -   Petal base.—Fused with corolla.        -   Petal length.—3 mm.        -   Petal width.—3 mm.        -   Petal color when opening (upper side).—N82B.        -   Petal color when opening (under side).—N82C.        -   Petal color fully opened (upper side).—N82B.        -   Petal color fully opened (under side).—N82C.        -   Petal color fading to.—N82C.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.-   Sepals:    -   -   Sepal arrangement.—Fused at base.        -   Number of sepals.—Average 4.        -   Sepal shape.—Linear.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal base.—Fused.        -   Sepal dimensions.—2.5 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Young sepal color (upper side).—138C.        -   Young sepal color (under side).—138C.        -   Mature sepal color (upper side).—138C.        -   Mature sepal color (under side).—138C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Calyx shape.—Lyriform.        -   Calyx dimensions.—2.5 mm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—2 mm. in length and 1 mm. in diameter.        -   Peduncle angle.—20 degrees from stem.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.        -   Peduncle color.—138C.-   Reproduction organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—4.        -   Anther shape.—Ovate.        -   Anther size.—1.0 mm.        -   Anther color.—155C.        -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—155C.        -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil length.—2.0 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Ovate.        -   Stigma color.—138D.        -   Style length.—2 mm.        -   Style color.—138D.        -   Ovary color.—138D.-   Fruit:    -   -   Seed dimensions.—0.4 mm. in length and 0.2 mm. in diameter.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Buddleja plant named ‘Tobudviole’ asdescribed and illustrated.